Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-31
QUITE A CHANGE.
Republicans Striving to Guido Democrats
In Reforming the Tariff.

new 1OIk deIaiu.
Mr.. Cleveland sent his message to Con-
gress two weeks ago to-day. 1t is very
seldom, indeed, that Q presidential mes
sage has in SO short period IS two weeks
forced those who at first laughed st IL
and denounced its recommendations to
turn about and confess that il is necessary
! to pay heed to these recommendations
| That is what has happened to the Rapub-
licsns in Congress-
When they read the message they de-
| fed the Democrats to touch the tariff.
| To-day nothing so busily engages their
| minds IS tariff revisioD nothing is so
sure as that they will, when the debate
comes on, declare themselves heartily
and zealously in favor of tariff revision.
They will thy to revise in their own
way, OF course. But they have totally
abandoned their original ground of two
weeks ego, and turned their backs on Mr..
| Blsine's cable order that the tariff should
not be touched, and that the Presidents
suggestion to revise it Was free trade
doctrine.
When Congress met, the Republican
plan to get rid OF the surplus was very
simple. They were ready for one Of two
| prof ects-either to abolish the whole in
ternhl taxes or to abolish the tobacco
tax and repeal the sugar duty. In the
one case about hundred millions, in the
other shout eighty millions would be
struck off.
| Af er two weeks they are forced to con-
| Tess that there is such 8 demand from
their own people, IS they have learned
from home, that they feel themselves
obliged TO recsst their plans entirely, and
submit to the Presidents suggestion that
the tariff ought to be revised.
The first cry Of "halt" came to the
Republican leaders from the far north
west. They became aware that in Min
nesota, Iowa and Nebraska, and even In
Kansas, formidable force OF Republican
voters were not in the least alarmed at
the message, but approved of tariff re-
vision and, even more, demanded it.
Almost Immediately came the strong
voice of the Chcsgo Tribune approving
the message and declaring MI. Blaine's
cable comments TO be wrong and false
and fatal doctrine for the party. Then
came fusillade ell around from Rspub-
lican Journals, which approved Of tariff
revision, declared it necessary and de-
noanced Mr.. Blaine's programme.
The northwestern Republican organs,
Congress against the message and against
touching the tariff, and reading the Blaine
cable, had the hardihood to quote at
once in big type the resolutions of three
Republican state conventions:
We favor an early and judicious re
vision of the tariff, with simplifcation
and reduction of customs dutes.- Plat
form Of last Republican state convention
in Minnesota.
We believe the tariff should be revised
and reduced Platform of last Republi-
csn state convention in Iowa.
AS the business OF the country now de-
mards revision of the tariff, the Repub-
lican party, alive to the demands of every
material interest, will see to it that such
revision shall be made at the earliest
practicable day Platform of last Re-
publican state convention in Nebraska.
Republican Governor McGill Of Mime
sofa fastened to reply to the Blaine
cable:
"The people of the northwest are
naturally tariff reformers. Democrats
and Republicans lad no difference on
this material issue. The result is that
am glad to see the President take such O
radical position on the question. I am
sure it will meet with general approval
all over the northwest"
The Republican ST. Paul Pioneer Ptess
wrote boldly:
The position assumed by Mr.. Blaine In
his comments upon the Presidents mes
sage ought not to be and can not be taken
by the Republican party as e whole with
out disastrous results. Let it be
remembered once more that tariff
reduction and reform is more
distinctly Republican than
Democratic demand. The Republican
party must not permit itself TO be drawn
into an attitude of hostility to tariff reduc-
ton.
From Minnesota to Maine is q long
stretch, but even in Maine the Republican
Portland Advertiser said:
"Pre sident Cleveland has done precise.
~ what Republican President in his
place would have DONE"
The Republican New Haven Journal
, says:
The message viii strike most CT oul
readers as an able and honest discussion
of very important and complicated
matter"
The Republican Boston Transcript says
"No one can doubt that Presiden,
Cleveland possesses civic courage,
| Whatever elise ne may ldCR, after
reading his message. He does not
appear in this message IS the
reckless dis!urber of trade or as heading
a crusade against manufacturers, and it is
evident that he would readily sign any
tariff bill that would avert future finan-
cial disasters and relieve the country
from q portion of it's burden of taxation -
The Republican Philadelphia Telegraph
says:
''It must be conceded, freely and frank
ly, that very much that the President says
in behalf OF tariff revision is simply in
controvertible."
The Omaha Bee, the Providence Jour-
nsl, the Indianapolis Journal and mum
Der of Republican papers, prefer Mr..
Cleveland's policy to Mr.. Blsine's and the
discussion gets more lively and more one.
sided every day.
The hidebound Republicans who be-
gan with the cry, "Don't you touch the
tariff" are silent in these parts, and after
two weeks Senator Sabin, Republican, of
Minnesota declares himself for free salt,